Comparing Facelift Techniques: Midface Lift vs. Traditional Facelift

Facial rejuvenations can take many forms, especially if you’re looking for a facelift. Because there are so many aspects and intricate details to the face, the surgical approaches used to lift and rejuvenate them must be diverse as well. When it comes to sagging skin, fat, and other aging concerns, a facelift often takes two major forms: a traditional facelift and a midface lift. Each of these techniques is designed to address specific patient concerns and achieve a certain type of result. Learn about the two major types of facelift before determining which approach will best suit the concerns you have. Consult with a plastic surgeon to help you make the final decision and start planning that facelift surgery.

The Point of Facelift Surgery

Before delving into the differences between traditional facelifts and midface lifts, let’s consider what unites these approaches. While they may seem like two different surgeries once you come to understand them, their purpose is truly one in the same. A facelift procedure, called a rhytidectomy, is performed using lifting techniques and soft tissue manipulations in order to create a more youthful appearance for the patient. In some cases, patients can look up to 10 years younger following the completion of their facelift recovery.

Although many variations exist, even beyond midface and traditional techniques, the goal of a facelift procedure is always the same: improve the look and contour to restores youthfulness to the face. Keep this in mind as you plan your consultation and look ahead to your own facelift surgery.

All About Traditional Facelifts

The traditional version of the facelift procedure focuses on the lower portion of the face. It typically begins with incisions placed along the hairline and around the ears to give the surgeon access to the tissue, muscle, and fat near the mouth, chin, and jaw. At the Lasky Clinic, Dr. Andrew Frankel’s techniques tend to penetrate more deeply into the tissues for a Deep Plane lift that will last longer than some of the more superficial methods. He lifts the tissues of this area upward, improving the contour of the jawline and the chin.

During a traditional facelift, saggy skin will be excised or tightened, shifted fat cells will be redistributed or removed, and the muscles can be sutured to provide better support. With the full tissue structure of their lower faces altered, patients will appear years younger. Their chins and jawlines will be much improved in contour and definition. Additionally, skin tone will improve while wrinkles and creases will diminish.

All AboutMidface Lifts

In cases where the signs of aging show prominently through the midsection of the face, a different tactic is needed to counteract them. Patients may consider a midface lift if they are experiencing sagging or fallen cheeks, wrinkling or creasing around the nose or in the area between the nose and mouth, and other drooping through this area. Traditional facelifts, which concentrate on the lower portion of the face, will do nothing to address these concerns. Through a midface lift, however, they can be reversed or greatly diminished.

The midface lift procedure is a vertical lifting of the tissue in the central part of the face. The surgeon will begin with incisions inside the mouth and above the gums to access the soft tissue in this area. He will then manipulate the soft tissue as needed, creating a more youthful, rounder look for the patient’s face. Long, thin faces affected by aging will become rounder and younger-looking. Midface lifts will also provide improved support to the lower eyelids, eliminating that sunken or hollow look that can emerge over time.

How to Choose the Right Facelift Technique

While traditional facelifts and midface lifts each offer tremendous results for the right patient, choosing the one best suited to your needs can be a real challenge. Each approach will achieve very different results, so it’s essential to pinpoint your trouble spots and decide what results you want to see.

For concerns about the lower portion of your face, especially those regarding the jawline and chin, a traditional facelift may be best. This approach will reduce the appearance of wrinkles in this area as well as the formation of jowls or a double chin.If you find your primary concerns are focused on the area between the mouth and eyes, your best approach will likely be the midface lift. Lifting the cheeks and tightening the skin in the midsection of the face will smooth the wrinkles around your nose and mouth, while solving any issues with fat displacement and sagging.

Either way, the best way to discover the proper approach for your facelift is to consult with a credentialed facial plastic surgeon. During a one-on-one consultation, the surgeon will evaluate your face and the aging concerns that you have. He will recommend a procedural approach to handle these concerns, whether it is a traditional facelift, a midface lift, or some combination of the two procedures. A more youthful profile is in your future once you’ve had a professional consultation to start the ball rolling.

Consult With a Facial Plastic Surgeon for More Information

To better understand the different facelift techniques and which would be the best approach for you, consult with Dr. Andrew Frankel, board certified in both Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ENT). His focus is on facial rejuvenation, especially through procedures such as the facelift, brow lift, or eyelid surgery, as well as rhinoplasty. Dr. Frankel has been practicing at the Lasky Clinic since 1994 and has earned extensive recognition as an expert in his field. He has many publications on a variety of topics including midface lifts, Botox, rhinoplasty, and more. To consult with Dr. Frankel, contact the Lasky Clinic located at 201 South Lasky Drive in Beverly Hills, CA. Call (310) 552-2173 to schedule your appointment today.